ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4721–4740 of 6,163 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCase-Control

Bottom-up proteomics suggests an association between differential expression of mitochondrial proteins and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ciregia, F, Kollipara, L, Giusti, L et al.·Translational psychiatry·2016

This study looked at proteins in the mitochondria—the energy-producing structures in cells—to see if they differ in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that two specific proteins (ATPB and ACON) were higher in people with ME/CFS, suggesting these could potentially be useful markers to help identify the condition. The findings also hint that different subgroups of ME/CFS patients may have different protein patterns, which could eventually lead to more personalized treatments.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Assessing current functioning as a measure of significant reduction in activity level.

Thorpe, Taylor, McManimen, Stephanie, Gleason, Kristen et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2016

ME/CFS diagnosis requires patients to show a significant drop in their activity levels, but doctors haven't agreed on how to measure this drop consistently. This study tested whether a common health survey (the SF-36) could accurately measure when someone's activities have substantially decreased. The researchers found that certain parts of this survey do a good job of identifying major reductions in functioning and can distinguish ME/CFS patients from healthy people.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Development of a group-based self-management programme for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Pinxsterhuis, Irma, Hellum, Live Lange, Aannestad, Hilde Hassum et al.·Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy·2015

Researchers developed and tested a new group-based program to help people with ME/CFS manage their illness better. The program includes educational sessions, group discussions, goal-setting, relaxation exercises, and involves both peer counselors and occupational therapists. Participants found the program helpful, and researchers made improvements based on their feedback before planning to test it more thoroughly in a larger study.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Macrophagic myofasciitis and vaccination: consequence or coincidence?

Santiago, Tânia, Rebelo, Olinda, Negrão, Luís et al.·Rheumatology international·2015

This study looked at 16 patients with a muscle condition called macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF), where aluminum from vaccines builds up in muscle tissue at the injection site. Half of these patients also had chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers found that most patients had received aluminum-containing vaccines before their symptoms started, suggesting vaccines might trigger this muscle condition in some people.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Medical constructions of long-term exhaustion, past and present.

Lian, Olaug S, Bondevik, Hilde·Sociology of health & illness·2015

This study looked at how doctors have understood exhaustion illnesses over time, comparing medical writings from 1860-1930 with those from 1970-2013. Researchers found that how these conditions were described and who had them changed dramatically: what was once seen as a physical disease affecting high-status men became viewed as a mental health problem affecting mostly women. The authors suggest these changes reflect cultural beliefs and values of each era, not just scientific discovery.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Effects of Waon therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Soejima, Yuji, Munemoto, Takao, Masuda, Akinori et al.·Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2015

Researchers tested a heat therapy called Waon therapy, which uses a far-infrared sauna at 60°C for 15 minutes followed by rest, on 10 people with ME/CFS. After four weeks of daily treatment, patients reported significantly less fatigue and improved mood and daily functioning, with no harmful side effects reported.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome: An infectious disease.

Underhill, R A·Medical hypotheses·2015

This paper argues that ME/CFS may be caused by an infectious agent that persists in the body, based on evidence like flu-like onset, clustering of cases in outbreaks, and immune responses similar to other infections. The author reviews existing clinical and epidemiological patterns to support an infectious disease hypothesis. However, the paper is a theoretical argument rather than a study presenting new experimental evidence, and no specific pathogen has been identified.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

THE MEASUREMENT OF ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND POLYPHENOL CONTENT IN SELECTED FOOD SUPPLEMENTS.

Wasek, Marek, Giebułtowicz, Joanna, Sochacka, Małgorzata et al.·Acta poloniae pharmaceutica·2015

This study tested dietary supplements marketed to people with ME/CFS to see if they actually contain the antioxidant compounds claimed on their labels. The researchers used four different laboratory methods to measure how much antioxidant power these supplements have and how much of a compound called polyphenols they contain. The goal was to verify whether these products actually do what they promise.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The most popular terms for medically unexplained symptoms: the views of CFS patients.

Picariello, Federica, Ali, Sheila, Moss-Morris, Rona et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2015

This study asked 87 ME/CFS patients which terms they preferred to describe their condition. Patients strongly favored terms that emphasized the physical nature of their illness, with "Persistent Physical Symptoms" being the most popular choice. The findings suggest that how we name this illness matters to patients—they want terminology that reflects that their symptoms are genuinely physical, not imagined or purely psychological.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Chronic Physical Stress Does Not Interact with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Encoded Dutpase to Alter the Sickness Response.

Aubrecht, Taryn G, Weil, Zachary M, Abi Salloum, Bachir et al.·Journal of behavioral and brain science·2015

Scientists studied whether physical stress (swimming) could make the sickness response worse when combined with a protein from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that some researchers think might play a role in ME/CFS. They gave mice either the virus protein or a placebo, with some mice also swimming daily for two weeks. They found that the virus protein alone caused some sickness behaviors, but adding the swimming stress did not make the response worse.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

New acoustic wave therapy improves quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.

d'Alessandro, Aldo, Niglio, Tarcisio, Desogus, Antonello et al.·Annali italiani di chirurgia·2015

This study describes one patient with multiple sclerosis who also had chronic problems with blood flow in the brain and spine (CCSVI). The patient was treated with a non-invasive device called Dreno-MAM® that uses acoustic waves to improve circulation. After two years of follow-up, the patient reported improvements in muscle strength, fatigue, and overall quality of life, and the authors suggest this approach might help people with ME/CFS and other neurological conditions.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Aspects of the non-pharmacological treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Eriksson, Elsa Maria, Andrén, Kristina Ingrid, Kurlberg, Göran Karl et al.·World journal of gastroenterology·2015

This article explains how irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) develops through problems in communication between the gut and brain, especially when the body is stressed or has experienced trauma. The authors suggest that combining traditional gastroenterology care with body-mind therapies—which help patients become more aware of their physical sensations—may be more effective than treating the gut alone.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The relationship between interleukin-6 in saliva, venous and capillary plasma, at rest and in response to exercise.

Cullen, T, Thomas, A W, Webb, R et al.·Cytokine·2015

Researchers measured a protein called IL-6 that the body produces during exercise and inflammation. They took samples from blood and saliva before and after exercise to see if IL-6 levels changed and whether different measurement methods gave similar results. They found that IL-6 increased in blood after exercise, but saliva samples did not show this increase, suggesting saliva may not be a reliable way to track this immune marker.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Consulting patients in setting priorities in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) research: findings from a national on-line survey.

Childs, Nicola, Robinson, Lisa, Chowdhury, Sonya et al.·Research involvement and engagement·2015

Researchers asked over 1,100 people affected by ME/CFS what they thought should be the most important areas for future research. The top priorities were understanding what causes ME/CFS, developing better treatments, and improving how quickly and accurately doctors can diagnose the illness. This study shows that patients have strong, clear opinions about what research funding should focus on.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Fluorescent nanodiamonds as a relevant tag for the assessment of alum adjuvant particle biodisposition.

Eidi, Housam, David, Marie-Odile, Crépeaux, Guillemette et al.·BMC medicine·2015

This study developed a new technology using tiny fluorescent diamonds to track where aluminum adjuvants (a component in vaccines) travel in the body and how long they stay there. Researchers found that these aluminum particles, which are used to boost immune response in vaccines, can move from the injection site to lymph nodes, the spleen, liver, and brain, where they accumulate over time. This tracking technology could help scientists better understand whether long-term exposure to these particles might cause health problems.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

Living with ME/CFS. challenge for scientists?

Weiler, John J A·Neuro endocrinology letters·2015

This case describes a person with ME/CFS for 19 years who experienced an unusual pattern: they could run 10 kilometers without problems, but later that same day, 30 minutes of browsing for books triggered severe exhaustion, muscle pain, and brain fog lasting into the next day. This puzzling difference highlights how ME/CFS symptoms don't always follow expected patterns and suggests that exercise intolerance in ME/CFS may be more complex than previously thought.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM requiredMethods-Paper

Accurate diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome based upon objective test methods for characteristic symptoms.

Twisk, Frank Nm·World journal of methodology·2015

ME and CFS are often treated as the same condition, but they are actually different illnesses with some overlapping symptoms. ME has specific features like muscle weakness, brain fog, heart and circulation problems, and especially a distinctive symptom called post-exertional malaise—where patients feel much worse after even small amounts of activity. Because many ME/CFS symptoms feel subjective, some doctors have questioned whether they are real physical problems, but this article argues that objective medical tests can measure key symptoms and help doctors diagnose these conditions more accurately.

Cognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

What matters to children with CFS/ME? A conceptual model as the first stage in developing a PROM.

Parslow, Roxanne, Patel, Aarti, Beasant, Lucy et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2015

Researchers interviewed 25 children with ME/CFS to understand what matters most to them about their illness and lives. Children described four main areas that are affected: their symptoms (which change unpredictably), their ability to be physically active, their social life with friends and family, and their emotional well-being. The study found that support from both doctors and schools is really important in helping children manage their condition.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Assessing the Psychometric Properties of an Activity Pacing Questionnaire for Chronic Pain and Fatigue.

Antcliff, Deborah, Campbell, Malcolm, Woby, Steve et al.·Physical therapy·2015

This study tested a questionnaire designed to measure how well people with chronic fatigue and pain pace their activities—meaning how they balance rest and activity throughout the day. Researchers simplified the original 38-question survey down to 26 questions and identified five different ways people try to pace themselves: adjusting activities, keeping activities consistent, gradually increasing activities, planning activities, and accepting limitations. The questionnaire was found to be reliable and useful for measuring pacing strategies.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

B-Lymphocyte Depletion in Myalgic Encephalopathy/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study with Rituximab Maintenance Treatment.

Fluge, Øystein, Risa, Kristin, Lunde, Sigrid et al.·PloS one·2015

This study tested whether removing B-cells (immune cells) using a drug called rituximab could help ME/CFS patients. Twenty-nine patients received rituximab infusions over 15 months and were followed for 3 years. Eighteen patients (62%) showed lasting improvement in fatigue, with some staying better for over 2 years, though improvements took several months to appear.

Immune System

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Bottom-up proteomics suggests an association between differential expression of mitochondrial proteins and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Assessing current functioning as a measure of significant reduction in activity level.

Development of a group-based self-management programme for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Macrophagic myofasciitis and vaccination: consequence or coincidence?

Medical constructions of long-term exhaustion, past and present.

Effects of Waon therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome: An infectious disease.

THE MEASUREMENT OF ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND POLYPHENOL CONTENT IN SELECTED FOOD SUPPLEMENTS.

The most popular terms for medically unexplained symptoms: the views of CFS patients.

Chronic Physical Stress Does Not Interact with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Encoded Dutpase to Alter the Sickness Response.

New acoustic wave therapy improves quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.

Aspects of the non-pharmacological treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

The relationship between interleukin-6 in saliva, venous and capillary plasma, at rest and in response to exercise.

Consulting patients in setting priorities in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) research: findings from a national on-line survey.

Fluorescent nanodiamonds as a relevant tag for the assessment of alum adjuvant particle biodisposition.

Living with ME/CFS. challenge for scientists?

Accurate diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome based upon objective test methods for characteristic symptoms.

What matters to children with CFS/ME? A conceptual model as the first stage in developing a PROM.

Assessing the Psychometric Properties of an Activity Pacing Questionnaire for Chronic Pain and Fatigue.

B-Lymphocyte Depletion in Myalgic Encephalopathy/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study with Rituximab Maintenance Treatment.

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Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

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